Mason Small Business Resources

Thank you for considering Mason as home to your small business! The small business community is a significant component to Mason’s overall economic development objectives.  The City of Mason is eager to assist in developing and growing your business.  We hope the information found below is helpful as a first step in getting to know the City of Mason. 

Before you buy, lease or build a location in Mason for your small business reach out to Jordie Bacon, City Planner, by phone at 513.229.8520 or email at [email protected]. 

Getting the information you need early in the process is key to starting a successful business in Mason.  We are committed to helping you navigate zoning and building code regulations needed for public safety and welfare, signage, ADA requirements, permitting, utilities etc.  Jordie Bacon and all of the City of Mason’s team is here to help answer questions, connect with resources and navigate processes.

If you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to follow the below steps to learn valuable information for small business owners:

Step 1 – State of Ohio Starting a Business Guide

Visit the State of Ohio Starting a Business Guide. These step-by-step guidelines and checklists help outline the necessary items needed to start a business in the State of Ohio.

Step 2 – Visit the Warren County Auditor’s Website

The Warren County Auditor’s website provides an opportunity to search historical records for the property you are interested in for your business.  This site will indicate previous ownership along with property tax information.

Step 3 – Review the City’s Zoning Map

View the City of Mason’s Zoning Map

Please contact Jordie Bacon, City Planner at 513.229.8520 or [email protected] with any questions.

Zoning is an important component for any community.  It helps prevent incompatible uses of land, such as a manufacturing facility next to a residential property, which can be harmful to community health.  Zoning also helps to maintain the identity of a community by organizing land into districts based on the type and intensity of use and protects residents’ privacy and safety. 

Step 4 – Review Zoning Ordinances

View the City’s Zoning Ordinances

Please contact Jordie Bacon, City Planner at 513.229.8520 or [email protected] with any questions.

The Mason Zoning Ordinances are a set of development standards for all land uses, zoning classifications, and standards of performance and design, created to promote public safety and welfare.

Please note that properties located in Downtown Mason may be part of the Downtown Overlay District. The purpose of the Downtown Overlay District is to preserve historical and architecturally significant assets in Downtown Mason while enhancing Downtown as a vibrant community focal point through innovative and creative site design and architecture. The Downtown Overlay District allows more flexibility in uses – properties can be used for either residential or commercial uses – to foster a more walkable community, while also preserving the historic nature of buildings in the Downtown area.

If you believe your building may be in the Downtown Overlay District (as shown on the Downtown Overlay District Map) please reach out to Jordie Bacon, City Planner, to learn more about the Downtown Overlay District and any potential guidelines that may apply to your property.

Utilities

The City contracts with Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) to provide water and monthly utility billing services to the community.  Contact GCWW at 513.591.7700 to learn more about monthly utility costs for an existing property you may be interested in for your small business. 

Contact the City of Mason’s City Planner, Jordie Bacon, at 513.229.8520 or by email at [email protected] to schedule a meeting to discuss in more detail the plans for your small business. Whether it is move-in ready, needs renovation, or vacant property you want to build on, let City of Mason staff help get you started.  We understand each business and potential property is unique.  We would like to learn more about the specifics of your project and how the City can make your project a reality in Mason. 

The City Planner will help you understand and guide you on the next steps for the property you are considering for your business.

  • Move-In Ready

    • If the property is not in need of any repairs or renovations, the next step is to complete the Zoning Certificate Application. Once the application is submitted, a Zoning Report will be completed by the City of Mason.

  • Needs Renovation

    • If you are planning any repairs or renovations to the property, building permits will likely be needed before renovations can begin.

    • A building permit is needed to ensure that any construction project adheres to local building codes that protect public safety by guaranteeing that work is done to standard, minimizing potential hazards, and ensuring the structural integrity of the building, essentially making it legal to start construction on a project while also safeguarding property values and homeowner liability. 

    • The City of Mason Permit Portal allows you to apply for the necessary building permits needed to complete renovations.

  • Vacant Land
    • If the property that you have purchased is vacant land and you are planning on constructing a building on the property you will likely need to submit a Planning Commission Application. The City of Mason’s Planning Commission helps to review and make decisions on site plans, landscape plans, and building elevations for all new buildings in the City along with major expansions of properties. Planning Commission meets monthly on the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. to review new development plans.  An outline of the 2025 Planning Commission meeting dates and application deadlines can be found on the last page of the Planning Commission Application.

Please contact Jordie Bacon, City Planner at 513.229.8520 or [email protected]. She is ready to help walk you through this process.

Fire Inspection

The Mason Fire Department Fire Inspectors conduct annual fire code inspections of all commercial buildings in Mason to assess safety risks and insure compliance with Ohio Fire Code. This process is part of maintaining a healthy and safe environment for employees and visitors to a business. To learn more about fire inspections, please contact a Fire Inspector at the City of Mason at 513.229.8540.

Fire Department Pre-Plan Program

Information is critical when responding to an emergency situation.  Often it can be the difference between life and death.  Mason Fire Department’s Pre-Plan Program helps the City of Mason Fire Department learn more about a business prior to an actual emergency.  In the event an emergency does arise, the Pre-Plan ensures a proper response.  Fire Department personnel visit each business in Mason annually to gather and update information relevant to their facility.  This visit is separate from the annual fire code inspection.

Fire Department – Emergency Action Plan

The Fire Department can help you create an Emergency Action Plan for your business.  Fire Department personnel help Mason businesses navigate the complexities of fire and medical emergencies in their respective facilities. The focus of these Emergency Action Plans is to educate and prepare, creating a unique plan for each business.

Additional Fire Services

The City of Mason Fire Department offers KNOX Box Installation for local businesses. A KNOX Box is a small, wall-mounted safe that holds building keys or access cards that are only able to be accessed by Mason Fire/EMS personnel in the event of an emergency. It enables fast and non-destructive emergency access to commercial and residential properties.

Additionally, the City of Mason Fire Department offers the Door Numbering Program to help with emergency responses to businesses or schools. The door numbering system is in place to label the inside and outside of exterior doors to identify the fastest point of entry in the event of an emergency.

Businesses inquiring about the KNOX Box Program and/or the Door Numbering service are encouraged to contact the City of Mason Fire Department at 513.229.8540.

Business Emergency Information Form

The Mason Police Department encourages every brick-and-mortar site within the City to complete the Business Emergency Info Form. This form provides the Police Department with the proper after-hours contact in the case of an emergency. If you have any questions about this form, please contact the City of Mason Police Department at 513.229.8560.

Safety Trainings

The City of Mason Campus Safety Team offer a variety of safety trainings that can be tailored to your businesses’ size and needs. These trainings help to build upon the existing partnership between the City and the local business network. The Mason Campus Safety Team offers Threat Assessments, De-escalation Trainings, Women’s Self Defense PROTECT Trainings, Active Assailant Workshops, CPR, AED, First Aid, Fire Extinguisher, and Stop the Bleed training to help those in emergency situations. If you are interested in these trainings or would like more information, please contact Mason Police Lieutenant Steve Temple at 513.229.8560.

The City has a 1.12% earnings tax on wages earned in Mason.  Employers in Mason are required to withhold the tax from their employees’ wages and remit to the City of Mason.

As a new business to Mason you are asked to complete The Business Income Tax Questionnaire to help us better understand your business and establish your City of Mason business tax account.  New business owners to Mason will receive a letter in the mail once their business is open that includes this questionnaire. The City of Mason Tax Department is here to help you get started. Please contact the Tax Office at 513.229.8535 or email [email protected] to learn more about tax reporting requirements in the City of Mason.

The City of Mason provides financial assistance to the Warren County Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to help ensure small businesses looking to locate to Mason get the help they need.

The SBDC works with small business entrepreneurs by offering access to a wide range of services and resources to help clients achieve their goals. Services offered include one-on-one counseling, workshops, business planning, business referrals, and cash flow analysis. Small businesses can explore current trainings and workshops available through the SBDC by clicking here.

The Warren County Small Business Development Center (SBDC), located at 3525 North State Route 48 Room #526B Lebanon, Ohio is a great resource for Mason small businesses. For more information, please click here or call 513-934-4793.

The Mason Deerfield (MADE) Chamber, located at 316 W Main Street Mason, Ohio, is a dedicated resource for local business support. The MADE Chamber works to promote investment, development, advocacy, connections, and visibility for local businesses and foster personal interactions among members. Looking to connect? Click here to visit the Chamber’s website, email [email protected], or call 513.336.0125.

In 2018, the MADE Chamber founded the MADE Chamber Community Development Corporation (MADECDC) in partnership with the City of Mason and other key leaders in the region. MADE CDC coordinates public and private efforts to grow the Mason region into a more healthy, vibrant, successful and resilient place to live, learn work and play.

In 2024, The City of Mason had committed a $3.5 million investment to MADE CDC over the next five years to support their efforts to revitalize the Mason Mile in Downtown Mason. Learn more about the Mason Mile project and the MADE CDC by clicking here.

Come Together Mason E-Gift Card

The Come Together Mason E-Gift Card Program, launched in 2020, is a single electronic gift card that can be used at over 80 participating small businesses within Mason. Businesses can apply for free to be a part of the local network that accepts Come Together Mason E-Gift Cards. This program allows customers to have a convenient shopping experience while increasing your business’s visibility. For more information or to apply to be a participating location, click here.

Mason Community Calendar

The Mason Community Calendar was launched as a public service to those who may be interested in promoting holidays, events, and activities happening within the Mason community. To view the calendar or submit an event, click here.

Promotional Opportunities at Events

The City has multiple signature events throughout the year intended to connect and build community spirit and pride and showcase community amenities. These events can be great promotional opportunities for Mason’s small business community.

Mason’s annual Red, Rhythm and Boom event on July 3 at the Mason Municipal Campus brings nationally acclaimed music talent to Mason and draws a large crowd to the City. As part of this event, there are opportunities for businesses to register as a food or non-food vendor.

Mason’s Heritage Festival is held on the third Saturday of September and is a way to honor the diversity and unique heritages that make up the community. This event includes a parade and festival in Downtown Mason with opportunities for businesses to register as a vendor for this event.

Every Friday night throughout June and July the Music in Mason concert series is hosted in Downtown Mason and includes a variety of music acts, vendors, and activities.

Within the Downtown Mason footprint, there is an established Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA). which allows patrons 21+ to purchase alcoholic beverages in a designated cup from permitted establishments and enjoy the beverages while patronizing establishments within the DORA District. If your business intends on selling alcohol, please connect with City Administration to learn more about becoming a designated DORA establishment by calling 513.229.8500 or by emailing [email protected].

The City of Mason values the small business community and is dedicated to supporting its growth and success. The City looks forward to connecting with businesses to explore partnerships and provide resources and opportunities to help businesses thrive in Mason. 

If you are interested in partnering with the City, please contact the City of Mason Administration Department at 513.229.8510 or by email at [email protected].